ively, and Piang turned and
started off through the jungle, following a well defined path.

"Plucky kid, that," said the sailor who pushed off. "Wonder if he
knows what's up? Half the time they don't tell the poor devils. Row
over toward the patrol-boat, and I'll warn them to watch carefully
to-night in case he tries to escape. When they first land here they
kick up a terrible row and usually try to make a get-away or commit
their particular brand of hari-kari [suicide]."

Piang was in a great hurry. There was no time to be lost and whatever
the business in hand might be, it must be finished quickly. He wondered
why some of the sailors had not come with him. Americans are always
so curious and never lose an opportunity to visit a strange barrio. He
ran on swiftly.

Two sounds broke simultaneously on his ears. What was there in them
to strike a chill to his heart, to fill him with forebodings? That
shrill whistle! It was surely the _Sabah's_, and as Piang came to
a small clearing, he caught a glimpse of the harbor. A cry broke
from him. The _Sabah_ was sailing away. Before he could fully
realize the calamity, that other sound, ominous and terrible, came
again from the barrio. A low rumbling, punctuated with shrieks and
screams, came nearer, nearer. Suddenly from out the dense undergrowth
protruded a face, shoulders, and finally a woman, old and bent, crept
through. Spell-bound, Piang watched her. Wisps of unkempt gray hair
straggled around her head; filthy rags hung from her lean, stooping
shoulders; sunken eyes, sly and vicious, glared at Piang. Tremblingly
the boy watched her creep toward him. There was something about the old
hag that turned his blood cold. The distant rumble became individual
howls, and Piang suddenly realized that he was being hunted. But why,
and by whom? The innocent paper in his hand crackled. The old hag
was very near, was about to touch him. With a shriek, Piang jumped
back. Her hands were festered; her face and neck were covered with
white splotches.

"A leper!" cried the boy and suddenly he realized that he had been
trapped by that villain, Sicto. Not Sicto, but Alverez had filched
the order for the confinement of a leper, had erased the name, and
substituted Piang's. He flung the damning paper from him.

As the boy darted off through the jungle, the old woman yelled. The
cry brought the others, and when Piang caught sight of them, he
almost lost hope. Would he be able to escape the con